Sentencing O’Neil, magistrates said: “There was a very high reading involved.

“There were four children in the car at the time and other vehicles had to swerve to avoid her vehicle.

“There was a very real danger to other road users, and to the children in the car.”

O’Neil, of St Elizabeth Road, Wigan, was also given a three-month curfew order, banning her from leaving her home between 9pm and 6am each night between Monday and Friday.

She was also banned from driving for three years, was told to attend a 15-day drink-impaired drivers’ programme at the Great Manchester Probation Service office, and was ordered to pay £85 court costs.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “Merseyside Police takes all cases of drink or drug impaired driving extremely seriously and will seek to take drivers to court to face justice in every possible instance.

“Ultimately drink driving can kill and maim innocent people. It can have a huge impact on victims and their loved ones as well as offenders whose lives can also be ruined as they face the loss of their jobs and possibly a custodial sentence.”